Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-29
BOY THIEVES.
TIE "wHIr1 DIAMONDS" CAPTURED
AT LAST BY Taz POLICE.
Precocious Burglars - Twelve. Year Ola
Captain Finley and His Band
Of Robbers.
Philadelphia Timos.l

ed companions, and looked deiiantly up
into Lieutenant Thompson's face as he
said proudly, "We're do White Dia-
monds, we are, and we're dc hardest gang
down town"
Captain Finley spoke the truth. The
"White Diamonds" only one of whom
is over fourteen years of age, have given
the police almost as much trouble as any
organized band of plunderers that ever
thrived in that section OF the city. For
months complaints have been daily re-
ceivcd at the Seventeenth, Second, and
Twentieth district station houses, telling
OF some new robbery by the daring
"White Diamonds" Bnlk-wiEdows on
Passytnk avenue, Second, and other
streets have been broken, and goods of
every description taken. Wagons filed
with goods. standing outside of stores,
were robbed, and houses were boldly
entered and valuable goods stolen.
The embryo burglars always succeeded
in successfully escaping with Their plum
der For long time the public believed
that band Of experienced Sneak-thleves
and "hiters had located down town.
All the robberies were skilfully planned
and executed, and 1t was not until few
days ago that the police learned OF the
existence OF the White Diamonds"
NINE or THE DOZEN CAPTURED.
Yesterday nine of the twelve members
Of the gang were captured, and by Z
o'clock this morning the Seventeenth
district police expect TO have the entire
twelve BOYS arrAigned before Magistrate
Eisenbrown for a hearing. The prisoners
are: Captain George Finley. twelve years
old, and Edward Murphy. fourteen years
old, both of 907 Ernest street Johnny
Cotter atlas "Irish, an auburn-haired
ten.ycar-old who lives at 9i6 Ernest
street Barney HaIkins, thirteen years
old. of ll26south twelfth street Thomas
Conlcy, aged twelve years of 1886 Ernest
street Jack Fagln, aged thirteen, OF
1923 Carpenter street; Johnny Chrlsty,
agcd twelve, of 9l3 Lafayette street;
Eddie Pcltz, aged thirteen. OF $50 Ellis
worth street and William DurOss, aged
sixteen. Of Ninth and Ernest streets.
Last Saturday night Mrs. Lynch, who
keeps small trimming store on the
southest corner of Eleventh and Els
worth streets. was robbed by the "White
Diamonds" They smashed the b1lk-
window and stole a silk handkerchief
Mrs. Lynch came to the door and they
ran away. The woman put wire screen
over the broken bulk-window and went
inside again. Then the little pilferers
returned and Captain Finley inserted a
stick with "a hook on the end through the
wire screen and stole several dozen hand
kerchefs, lot of cologne IN bottles,
and many other articles, while his com
panions III crime "laid for de cOppers.
They all escaped with the booty, and
when Mrs. Lynch discovered the robbery
she reported it to the police.
OFFICERS ATTACKED AND BEATEN.
Sunday night Officer Kennedy, of the
Seventeenth district, saw n boy standing
in front OF the broken bulk window try
ing to get his hand inside. He took the
boy to the station-house. where he gave
his name as William Duross. Lieutenant
Thompson questioned him, and the little
prisoner told the names of his COM
paniOns and confessed to having been
concerned in dozen mysterious robbie
ries. Yesterday officers went TO the
houses of all the boys and captured eight
Of them besides Duross.
Two officers in citizens clothes went
to Captain Finley's house with war
raut. When they tried to arrest the
leader Of the gang. his big brother,
George Finley, who IS thirty-two years
old. aud three friends, Jesse Howell,
Cornelius Campbell, nd John Connolly,
iumped on the police and beat them
until they had 10 let him go. They
secured reinforcements at the station
house. and little Finley and his big
brother. with Howell. Campbell, and
Connolly. were all arrested. The homes
of all the boys were searched and some
OF the stolen goods recovered.
Mrs. Annie ConnOr mother OF one OF
the bows who has not yet been caught.
was arrested at her house in small
court on Tenth street below Ellsworth.
4 lot of the booty was found in her pos
session. and she is charged with having
received stolen goods. Mary Moore, q
Young woman who lives in the same
house, tried to hide big pile OF clothing
winch had been stolen when she saw The
officers coming. She was also arrested
and locked up on the same charge. The
bows were all placed III the corridor oI
the station-h house, and they whlied away
the long night by singing, dancing, anc
select performances on the mouth-orSan
SOME or THEIR MANY CRIMES.
They glory in their crimes, and Cap
fam Finley recOuntcd with evident en-
ioymcnt the numerous exploits Of the
gang 10 Lieutenant Thompson. TwC
weeks ago Finley and boy named lin
nev, who lives on Sidney street, and WHIT
has not vet been caught, went into
harbershop on Tenth street below ELS
worth. The proprietor was alone III tn
shop, ond while he was cutting tlnley
hair Tinuey tapped the till, which con
tanned several dollars, and ran out. IN
barber chased him and left Finley alon
in the shop. Finley pocketed hall do
zen rozors and lit out
A week ago Finley and the rest OF tn
diamonds" went 10 cigar store
Ninth and Mexican streets. One OF In
gang went around to the back alley
pounded on the gate and shoute
Fire" The proprietor ran back 7
find out what was gong on ana While d
was in the yard several members OF IN
crowd went in the store, snatched I"
loxes of good cigars, and fled. The boy
peddled the cigars on the street ct on
and two cents apiece.
Last Sunday night the "Whlte Dl'
monds" made a we'll planncdraid on u
residence OF William Conner, at "
Ellsworth street. Mr.. Conner had
Christmas-tree in the front parlor an
around the tree were number.
Christmas presents. The front bliu'
were up and the boys could see IN
the pailor. They waited until ever.
body bad lett the room, the
they climbed over the side sat
little Irish" Cottcr, who is Il
smallest boy in the crowd, be
lis hands together and made a la
der upon which Captain Finley climbe
20 the side window He gently raise
the window, Gimbcd in, and threw 8
eiik dress, a present 10 Mr.. Conner
little daughter several other yaluab
gifts, ami half dozen boxes OF cand